Flume outlet



April 29, 1958 E. M. NORUM, JR 2,832,202

FLUME OUTLET Filed July 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I [344720 M/AO won/441a 1N VEN T 0R. 7

Avme wys April 29, 1958 NORUM, JR 2,832,202

FLUME OUTLET Filed July 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ica. 4

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INVENTOR.

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assigns Patented Aer. EEl l 9 FLUME @UTLET Edward Milo Norum, .l'n, Honolulu, Territory oi Hawaii, assignor to Hawaiian Development Company, Ltd, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, a corporation of the Territory of Hawaii Application .iuly 2s, lass semi No. 599,075 5 Claims. ci. tin-14 The present invention relates to an improved fiume outlet particularly useful in the irrigation of furrow crops where it is desired to control the how of water from an irrigation flume into a furrow.

The fiume outlet described herein is generally a body of elastic material with means incorporated therein for quickly attaching and detaching the same from a fiume which is provided with a generally rectangular aperture. The fiume outlet incorporates a simple valve structure in the form of a slidablc plate for controlling the flow of water from the ilurne.

A general object of the present invention is to provide an improved fiume outlet for irrigation flumes.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide an outlet device which is readily afiixabie to a fiume and to provide a positive seal therewith.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved flume outlet which may be easily and quickly attached to and removed from the Flume.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a flume outlet that minimizes turbulence and provides minimum energy loss.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved llume outlet which minimizes the accumulation of foreign material. that otherwise would tend to reduce the discharge rate.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved outlet device which, when removed from the dome, leaves no protuberances in the Plume.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a flume outlet having throat cross-section that attracts flow and ofiers minimum amount of resistance to flow.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a fiume outlet having a discharge section which delivers water to soil erosion.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved tlume outlet having discharge section which offers a minimum of resistance to the flow.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a dome outlet having discharge or outlet section which offers a minimum energy loss.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved flume outlet having a valve or dew regulating element with the valve seal being provided in a simple and expeditious manner.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a flume outlet of this type which has a di adequate to cover all situations as dictated by our... in the furrow.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fiume outlet having all of the features men tioned above in a simple and relatively inexpensive device.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel e set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention i lf, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with the furrow with a minimum amount of further objects and thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following desc lption taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view in side el vation of a flume outlet embodying features of the present invention attached to a fiume, the upstream side of the ilume being to the right and the downstream side of the flume being to the left.

Figure 2 is a view taken in the direction indicated the arrows Z-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figures 4- and 5 are sectional views taken substantially on corresponding lines and in Figure 3.

Figure 6 shows, in enlarged form, a portion of the structure illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the fiume outlet.

The flume outlet, having the general reference numeral lid, is or elastic or resilient material, with the exception of the slidable valve plate 11, and is adapted to be quickly attached to and removed from the water carrying flume 12. For this purpose, the Home 12 is provided with a generally rectangular apertured portion 12A, so that no protuberances extend into iiume outlet MB is removed.

The flume outlet comprises generally an inlet section 15, a throat section it? and a discharge or outlet section 37, the valve plate ll being in a position to effectively divide the throat section 16 from the outlet section li'.

ltis noted that each one of these three sections l6 and 1) comprises conduits that are substantially rectangular in cross-section, with, however, rounded internal corners so as to impede to a minimum Water flow. it is noted that the entrance to the inlet section lib is defined generally by the peripheral rectangular edge It? of special construction. This peripheral edge portion 119 has formed therein a self-retaining sealing groove Ztl around the Outside thereof, such groove 2i) being defined by relatively small lower lip El and a relatively large overhanging lip 22.

It is noted that the overhanging lip 22 has an upstream portion 22A (Figure 3) of smaller cross-section at the upstream side than along the remainingportion of the upper lip (Figures 3 and 5), and such lip 22 is rounded around the periphery thereof to assure a streamlined fluid flow. Such peripheral edge Zil has at the downstream end of the flume outlet (Figure 3) a streamlined cantilever portion 24 which overhangs a portion of the throat section for minimizing the possibility of catching foreign material that otherwise might impede the water flow, and also to part the fiuid flow in a smooth manner, thereby reducing turbulence and splashing.

It is observed that the throat section 16 is contiguous with the inlet section 1'5 and is defined by a substantially fiat down-draw wall 26 which is contiguous with and extends generally downwardly from the upstream portion of the lip 20. This throat section 16 is provided with a generally rectangular open-ended groove 23 formed inwardly thereof near the lower end of the down-draw wall 26. The movable closure plate 11 is slidably mounted in the open-ended groove 28, and such open-ended groove 28 is defined by a bulbous portion 28A (Figure 6) which is arranged to resiliently Contact the plate to provide a seal and to frictionally hold the plate in adjusted position in the groove.

The outlet section 1'7 is contiguous with the throat section 16 and extends below the open-ended groove 28. The outlet section 17' is in the form of an elbow having a generally rectangular conduit with rounded internal corners, the lower end of the elbow terminating in a plane inclined generallyupwardly in the direction of the upstream side. i

or below the Home when the terior of the flume 12. Once inserted, there is sufficient pressure between the groove portion and the edge of the flume 12 whereby the flume outlet is self-retained and an adequate water seal is provided between the flume outlet and the flume.

It is noted also that the protuberance 24, while serving as a flow deflector designed to cut the flow smoothly, is sufficiently small to minimize the possibility of foreign material accumulation.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious e to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made Without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A flurne outlet comprising a body of elastic material having an inlet section, a throat section, and an outlet section, said inlet section being generally rectangular in I cross section and having a peripheral edge portion, said peripheral edge portion having a self-retaining sealing groove around the outside thereof, said groove being defined by a relatively small lower lip and a relatively large overhanging lip, said overhanging lip having an upstream portion of smaller cross section at the upstream side than along the remaining portion of the lip and being rounded around the periphery thereof to assure a streamlined fluid flow, said peripheral edge having, at the downstream end of the flume outlet, a streamlined cantilever portion overhanging a portion of the throat section, said throat section being contiguous with said inlet section and being defined by a substantialy flat down-draw wall that is contiguous with and extends generally downwardly from said upstream portion of said lip, said throat section having a generally rectangular open-ended groove formed inwardly thereof near the lower end of said down-draw wall, a movable closure plate in said open-ended groove, said open-ended groove being defined by a bulbous portion arranged to resiliently contact said plate along a portion of its peripheral edge and frictionally hold the same in adjusted position in said groove, said outlet section being contiguous with said throat section and extending below said open-ended groove, said outlet section being in the form of an elbow having a generally rectangular conduit with rounded internal corners, the lower end of the elbow terminating in a plane inclined generally upwardly in the direction of the upstream side.

2. A fiume outlet comprising a body of elastic material having an inlet section, a throat section, and an outlet section, said inlet section being generally rectangular in cross section and having a peripheral edge portion, said peripheral edge portion having a self-retaining sealing groove around the outside thereof, said groove being de fined by a relatively small lower lip and a relatively large overhanging lip, said overhanging lip having an upstream portion of smaller cross section at the upstream side than at the remaining portion of the lip and being rounded around the periphery thereof to assure a streamlined fluid flow, said throat section being contiguous with said inlet section and being defined by a substantially fiat down-draw wall that is contiguous with and extends generally downwardly from said upstream portion of said lip, said throat section having a generally rectangular open-ended groove formed inwardly thereof near the lower end of said down-draw wall, a movable closure plate in said open-ended groove, said open-ended groove being defined by a bulbous portion arranged to resiliently contact said plate along a portion of its peripheral edge and frictionally hold the same in adjusted position in said groove, said outlet section being contiguous with said throat section and extending below said open-ended groove, said outlet section being in the form of an elbow having a generally rectangular conduit with rounded internal corners.

3. A fiume outlet comprising a body of elastic material I having an inlet section, a throat section, and an outlet section, said inlet section having a peripheral edge portion, said peripheral edge portion having a self-retaining sealing groove around the outside thereof, said throat section being contiguous with said inlet section and being defined by a substantially flat down-draw wall that is contiguous with and extends generally downwardly from said upstream side of the iiurne outlet, said throat section having an open-ended groove formed inwardly thereof near the lower end of said down-draw wall, a movable closure plate in said open-ended groove, said open-ended groove being arranged to resiliently contact said plate and frictionally hold the same in adjusted position in said open-ended groove, said outlet section being contiguous with said throat section and extending below said openended groove.

4. A flume outlet comprising a body of elastic material having an inlet section, a throat section, and an outlet section, said inlet section having a peripheral edge portion, said peripheral edge portion having a self-retaining sealing groove around the outside thereof, said throat section being contiguous with said inlet section, said throat section having a generally rectangular open-ended groove formed inwardly thereof near the lower end thereof, a movable closure plate in said open-ended groove, said open-ended groove being arranged to resiliently contact said plate and frictionally hold the same in adjusted position in said groove, said outlet section being contiguous with said throat section and extending below said open-ended groove.

5. A flume outlet comprising a body of elastic material having an inlet section, a throat section, and an out let section, said inlet section being generally rectangular in cross section and having a peripheral edge portion, said peripheral edge portion having a self-retaining sealing groove around the outside thereof, said throat section being contiguous with said inlet section and being defined by a substantially flat down-draw wall that is contiguous with and extends generally downwardly from said upstream portion of said flume outlet, said throat section having a generally rectangular open-ended groove formed inwardly thereof near the lower end of said down-draw wall, a movable closure plate in said open-ended groove, said open-ended groove being arranged to resiliently contact said plate and frictionally hold the same in adjusted position in said groove, said outlet section being contiguous with said throat section and extending below said open-ended groove, said outlet section being in the form of an elbow.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,042,350 McGuire May 26, 1936 2,527,047 Wold Oct. 24, 1950 2,543,909 Hatheway Mar. 6, 1951 2,656,682 Wold Oct. 27, 1953 2,756,078 Klingler July 24, 1956 

